Peer Exclusion in Childhood and Adolescence: Multi-level Mechanisms and Risk for Depression

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

This set of four presentations exemplifies the breadth of inquiry into peer exclusion in children and adolescents, ranging from longitudinal studies of peer-reported peer exclusion and social preference to lab-based experiments that capture neurological responses to peer exclusion analogues. Together these presentations provide evidence for multi-level individual and interpersonal mechanisms involved in peer exclusion and depression. The first presentation modeled individual differences in children and adolescents’ peer exclusion trajectories over five years, predicted exclusion trajectories from social behaviors and ability to defend oneself, and predicted depression from exclusion trajectories. The second presentation provides evidence that low peer social preference in 1st grade predicted children’s depressive symptoms and loneliness from 1st through 3rd grade, and that obesity strengthened low social preference as a predictor of loneliness in 3rd grade. The third presentation reveals that, when excluded versus not excluded by peers, adolescent girls demonstrated more rumination and activation in brain regions involved in social cognition, contributing to depression. The fourth presentation demonstrates that Mexican-origin adolescents’ autonomic responses to peer exclusion in a Cyberball experiment predicted future autonomic stress reactivity and regulation and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Together these presentations reveal multi-level individual (social behavior, appearance) and in interpersonal mechanisms (ability to defend oneself, immediate and enduring ruminative and neurological responses to exclusion) in child and adolescent peer exclusion and depression. These multilevel mechanisms suggest that prevention and intervention efforts for child and adolescent depression could target the key interpersonal process of peer exclusion, as well as individual child and adolescent functioning.

Sub Unit

• Social Relationships

Chair

• Heidi Gazelle, Florida State Univeristy

Individual Presentations

• Peer Exclusion Trajectories From Third Through Seventh Grade: Social Behavioral Predictors and Depressive Responses - Presenting Author: Heidi Gazelle, Florida State Univeristy; Jessie K Lundin, Northern Arizona University

• Low Peer Social Preference in First Grade Predicts Depression and Loneliness From First through Third Grade and Child Obesity Strengthens This Loneliness Effect in Third Grade - Presenting Author: Amanda W. Harrist, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater; Glade Topham, Kansas State University; Laura Hubbs-Tait, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater; Lenka Shriver, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Clarissa M Corkins, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater; Taren Swindle, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

• Hooked on a Thought: Rumination and Neural Response to Peer Exclusion in Adolescent Girls - Presenting Author: Leehyun Yoon, University of California, Davis; Erika E Forbes, University of Pittsburgh; Alison E. Hipwell, University of Pittsburgh; Kate Keenan, University of Chicago; Amanda E Guyer, University of California - Davis

• Mexican-origin Adolescents’ Autonomic Stress Response During Peer Exclusion Associated With an Increased Risk for Prospective Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors - Presenting Author: Lauren C. Gonzalves, University of California - Davis; David G Weissman; Richard Whitney Robins, University of California - Davis; Amanda E Guyer, University of California - Davis; Paul David Hastings, University of California - Davis